Consequences of Adult Obesity

Overweight and obesity in adulthood is associated with many serious physiological, psychological, and social consequences, as listed below. Given these health and social consequences, it should not be surprising that obesity has serious economic consequences as well. The annual medical costs alone have been estimated as high as $190 billion (in 2005 dollars) — 21 percent of all medical spending (Cawley & Meyerhoefer, 2012).